Arkansas has an abundance of resources to help food processing companies succeed. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission works directly with food processing companies looking to start-up, expand or relocate. In addition, we assist companies with finding the best incentives so companies are able to make money quickly and efficiently.
There were 522 food and beverage companies in Arkansas at the end of 2022. These companies employed 55,130 people. Arkansas is home to Tyson Foods and numerous other food processing facilities, including Nestle, JBS USA, Kraft Heinz, Mars Inc., Cargill Inc., Hormel Foods Corp, Riceland Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Brands Inc., Land O’ Frost and Frito-Lay, Inc.
Arkansas has the 5th largest percentage of food processing workers in the United States. The growth rate of the food and beverage industry from 2017 to 2022 was 6 percent in Arkansas.
The food processing industry is booming in Arkansas and continues to grow exponentially. Eight of the top 10 food and beverage companies by revenue in the world have manufacturing facilities in the state.
Arkansas is meeting the workforce needs for food processing companies. The state now has the second-largest number of food processing workers in the US and Arkansas has responded to industry growth by modernizing the workforce.
The Venture Center was launched in May 2014 in Little Rock by a group of entrepreneurs and business leaders who recognized that, at the time, the Arkansas tech industry was struggling to keep up with other states in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship. The founding members of The Venture Center wanted to bolster the number of tech-based startups in the state and increase the number of Arkansans working in tech-related fields.
Over the past 50 years, Arkansas has produced significant fintech startup success stories. Acxiom, ABC Financial, Arkansas Systems (now Euronet Worldwide), Mainstream Technologies, and Systematics (now FIS) together have a wealth of experience. Arkansas Venture Center founders wanted to leverage the know-how of those companies to help start a new generation of budding entrepreneurs and tech-based startups.
The Venture Center helps entrepreneurs turn their startups into viable, high-growth businesses. Through mentorships, intensive programming and introductions to the investor community, The Venture Center is an engine for economic growth in Central Arkansas and beyond.
Since 2014, companies involved in The Venture Center have created more than 445 jobs, generated $28 million in revenue, raised $39 million in capital and strengthened the knowledge-based economy in Arkansas.
